Articles by Freelance Switch from September 2011

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at clients with underlying problems. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have ...

A recent Freelance Freedom episode shows our hero driving around town, criticizing the design of business signs. It gets to the point where the wife has to put on music in order to silence him.Our irr...

A typical freelancer is an idea generating engine. New ideas spring up all the time. Suddenly, you may realize you have a perfect solution to a problem or get inspiration on the go. To record your pre...

Credit: flattop341 on Flickr“Ghostwriting” business communications is a lucrative and satisfying writing niche that requires some special skills and the right mindset. I’ve had excel...

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and c...

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5 Reasons for Freelancers to Use LinkedInMany of the freelancers I know stay active on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +, but they ignore one of the most powerful professional networks out there: L...

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.This week we look at Steve Jobs on How to live before you die by ...

It’s not uncommon to find educational conferences and seminars for most professions. But finding educational opportunities when you’re a freelancer can be a more difficult matter. Cal Evan...

Cloud computing oppens new opportunities for freelancers. One of them is free online file synchronization and storage. Nowadays you can sync your PC files and manage your documents on the go. Share fi...

Credit: Kirstypargeter on PhotoduneThere was a time when getting one’s words into print and out to the reading public was time-consuming and expensive.If you were going the conventional route an...

Rockable Press is very proud to announce the launch of our newest book, LinkedIn and Lovin’ It!Why a LinkedIn book? LinkedIn veteran and FreelanceSwitch writerSusan Johnston was encouraged to wr...

Welcome to Part III of our series on civic mindedness. Previously we’ve heard from the head of the Northwest Freelancers Association in Washington State and a freelance public relations manager ...

Credit: v4 on PhotoduneWhen I began freelancing, I was open to anything. I would take just about any job, at just about any pay. I’m still like that, sometimes, although my standards have grown....

Credit: Novic on PhotoduneAs a freelance writer, you have probably created a niche around your expertise. Maybe its healthcare, knitting, or finance. And I bet you spend the majority of your time writ...

Many of the freelancers I know stay active on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +, but they ignore one of the most powerful professional networks out there: LinkedIn. Maybe its because they think Lin...

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and c...

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International Freelancers Day   Its About Time!International Freelancers Day (IFD) is a global initiative to celebrate independent workers, their entrepreneurial spirit and the tremendous impact ...

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.This week we look at Build a tower, build a team by Tom Wujec. In...

2011 Freelance Industry ReportTens of millions of workers remain unemployed around the world. But the freelance segment of the workforce is not only growing, it’s actually thriving. That’s...

Credit: Andresrphotos on PhotoduneIts not unusual for a client to put a clause in your contract that, if theres an issue, they want to go to mediation, rather than court. Whether or not mediation is a...

photo credit: smi23le on FlickrWe’ve talked before on FreelanceSwitch about ways to find new clients. In last year’s Freelancer’s Survey, a growing portion of freelancers indicated t...

Credit: by Pressmaster on PhotoduneAs a freelancer, there are always days when I could use a spare pair of hands. Just having someone who can send out some emails or reformat a couple of files to meet...

Welcome to part two of our discussion on the importance of being civic minded. In researching people to interview on the topic, I virtually stumbled upon a website called Good Things Going Around. Own...

Credit: Iofoto on PhotoduneYoure an awesome writer. So why arent your clients in awe?Most of us become freelance writers because well, were talented writers. We love finding the perfect words and putt...

Have you ever noticed that every group, activity and product on the face of the earth seems to have its own “day”? There’s National Boss Day, National Teachers Day, National Bowling ...

Credit: Elenathewise on PhotoduneCompared to other businesses, freelance writing seems a lot less costly. Its relatively much easier and considerably less expensive than opening a brick-and-mortar sto...

Picture this: You own your own catering business. Long days of persistent marketing and hard work have paid off and you have a steady stream of corporate clients. At a networking luncheon, youre seate...

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and c...

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Spark Your Freelance Business with Strategic SynergyAre you trapped selling buckets of time? Bouncing from one freelance project to the next? There is a better way develop a synergistic approach to y...

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.This week we look at Jason Fried: Why work doesn’t happen a...

Since FreelanceSwitch started, there is one question that I get asked more often than any other. How can a freelancer find more work and generate new client leads?Well at FreelanceSwitch we don’...

Richard Roberts is a US based illustrator and designer, known in the field for his work with Photoshop, and surreal style. He’s worked hard to build strong relationships with his clients, and ha...

I work for a magazine publishing company with a very small staff. We use email marketing to let our advertisers know what is coming up in future issues, enticing them to advertise. There is no way our...

Justin Knechtel lives in between the cities of Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, on Mercer Island. As the founder of the Northwest Freelancers Association (NWFA), an independent nonprofit organization...

Credit: Jeancliclac on PhotoduneWatch out, copywriting mistakes can loose you potential clients, effect your reputation. As a website copywriter, I quite often notice mistakes in the websites of other...

Credit: PriamLimited on PhotoduneMaybe you are about to launch a blog or possibly considering how to focus your content to draw a specific customer. Content consumers – your customers – ar...

Credit: Solarseven on PhotoduneAre you trapped selling buckets of time? Bouncing from one freelance project to the next? There is a better way – develop a synergistic approach to your freelance ...

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and c...

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Freelance Help, 100+ Tips on Creating an Effective Online PortfolioWe all have to start somewhere with displaying our work. Whether youre building your portfolio for the first time, or looking to...

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.This week we look at Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance w...

At FreelanceSwitch, we get plenty of mail from teen Web designers that want to be featured on the site. It’s hard to weed out who has something valuable to say, because we like to interview peop...

Each month, we bring together a selection of the best tutorials and articles from across the whole Tuts+ network. Whether you’d like to read the top posts from your favourite site, or would...

Credit: Andy Dean Photography on PhotoduneAs freelancers, the thought of trying to tackle a legal problem can be scary: whether youre just trying to collect on an unpaid invoice or youre facing a much...

Online portfolios are one of a freelancer’s greatest marketing tools. You can reference it in your business cards, promotional campaigns, email signatures, and clients can find you on their own ...

Credit: SimpleFoto on PhotoduneIf you’re a freelancer, you probably know the Lumpy Income Blues by heart. You know how it goes: One month, your income is $10,000. That’s a five-figure inc...

It’s kinda crazy to think, but our little internet startup, Envato, has been on the air now for five years. We started back in 2006 as four very enthusiastic and totally green entrepreneurs with...